Abuse and family violence can take the form of physical, psychological, sexual, financial, or emotional abuse. Abuse happens in all kinds of families, including people of all income levels, ethnocultural backgrounds, and sexual orientations.

There are laws about hours of work, minimum wage, vacation pay, holiday pay, time off work, health and safety in the workplace, and what a worker can do if they are fired or treated so badly that they are forced to quit.

Family law covers legal issues related to the formation and breakdown of families, including marriage and common-law relationships, birth and adoption, separation and divorce, child custody and access, child support, spousal support, division of property, and child protection.

In Ontario, the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) sets out the law related to rent increases, evictions, repairs, and other issues that affect tenants. The RTA applies to most rental housing, although there are some living arrangements and rental situations it does not apply to.

Wills, estates, trusts and power of attorney are common tools used in estate planning: the transfer of a person's assets (e.g. property, money) when they die, and other personal matters including guardianship of dependent children.